Refrigerating apparatus



March 4, 1941. H L 2,233,456

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed May 31, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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March 4, 1941. A, PHlLlPP 2,233,456

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed May 31, 1934 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY a W 8 M. ATTORNEY.

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Original Filed llay 51, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. L/iwRz/wz: 19. PHIL/PP ATTORNEY.

March 4, 1941.

L. A. PHILIPP 2,233,456

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed lay 31, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Lavina/1cm: 1?. PHIL/PP ATTORNEY.

Patent ed Man-4, 941

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,233,456 nsralosaarmo APPARATUS Lawrence A. Philipp, Detroit, Mich.,- asaignor to Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Maryland Original application May 31, 1934, Serial No.

Divided and this application November 11, rear, Serial No. 174,098

4 Claims.

My invention pertains to refrigerator compressor and evaporating units and more particularly to a non-frosting two temperature refrigerator cooling and freezing structure united with a compressor unit.

The present application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 728,289, filed May 31, 1934, for Refrigerating apparatus.

It is an object of my invention to provide a non-frosting refrigerator cooling structure which is especially effective and convenient for use in I with 'a unitary non-frosting, two temperature iii cooling unit in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line H thereof;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a partition member for enclosing a freezing chamber;

Fig. 5 is a verticalsectional view taken transversely through a. refrigerator showing another embodiment of my non-frosting cooler unit installed in a refrigerator cabinet;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 68 thereof;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a crosssecthereof; I

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view on line llll v thereof Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken through a refrigerator cabinet showing a modification of my invention comprising a secondary system; and

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view representing the cooperative relation of the various elements as interconnected in my two temperature refrigerating system. I I

Referring more specifically to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings the structure, as shown, cornprlses'a refrigerator cabinet I of the usual heat ing appearance.

A heat insulating wall It horizontally manner. disposed between a food compartment I and a machine compartment 6 includes a removable portion I comprising a base'mounting member on which the compressor machine unit and the associated elements are removably mounted in the cabinet. The machine unit comprises a compressor enclosed in a suitable hermetically sealed casing and interconnected through suitable conduit means IS with the usual condenser It for compressing and condensing the refrigerant. From the condenser It the refrigerant passes through a conduit I5 to a high side float valve l6 as will be more-fully set forth subsequently. A fan I! adjacent'the condenser circulates air therethrough and the machine compartment may be provided with vents in the usual manner. The compressor may be controlled to operate intermittently in accordance with the temperature conditions withinthe refrigerator cabinet by a heat responsive switch in the usual manner.

In accordance with my invention the interfitting surfaces between the edges of the removable heat insulating base I, and the adjacent partition or wall 19, are beveled whereby the weight of the compressor machine thereon forces them into close fitting relation. A gasket 22 of yieldable material, such as rubber for example, is provided between the interfitting beveled'surfaces to insurethat a well sealed contact is established.

The food compartment 5 is cooled by finned defrosting cooling plates 24 which are suspended on suitable supports 25 from the lower side of the removable base member I. Heat absorbing fins 26 are provided on the cooling plates 24 by securing channel shaped metallic strips 21 in intimate thermo conductive relation thereon in any suitable manner as by welding or soldering. The heat is carried away from the cooling plates by passing a refrigerant through coils of suitable conduit secured thereto in heat conductive relation. r

A portion of the food compartment space 5 within the cabinet is enclosed as a. freezing chamber 30, by a partition member 3| which is permanently secured to the cabinet structure. The partition member 3| is preferably a sheet metal structure of substantially U shaped cross section closed at one end as shown in Fig. 4, and it is preferably provided with a hard coating of vitreous enamel such as porcelain to present a pleas- Wide flanges 32 project laterally from the open edges of the partition member adjacent the open end of the U and are provided with holes 33 to receive screws or other fastening means for securing the partition member permanently to the upper wall of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 1.

The partition member 31 is mounted directly beneath the compressor unit assembly, and the wide flanges 32 along the sides of the permanently mounted partition member are provided with elongated slots 34 through which the cooling plates, depending from the removable machine base I may be readily inserted or withdrawn as the compressor unit is installed, or removed for shipping.

preferably provided with a porcelain finish and is of pleasing contour having a peripheral curved or tapered flange or skirt to conceal the edgee of the partition member and the adjacent cooling plates 24.

The freezing chamber enclosed within the porcelain partition member is cooled by freezing plates 4| which are secured together in parallel horizontally disposed relation and supported 'by suitable brackets 42 depending downwardly from the compressor base The freezing plates com prise shelves for the reception of various articles or freezing trays 40, as shown in Fig. 6, and they are connected together by conduits 45 in order that refrigerant may be passed therethrough. Each of the freezing plates 4| may comprise a 'hollowchamber for the vaporization of the refrigerant, or each hollow plate may enclose a brine or other heat storing medium surrounding coils of conduit through which the refrigerant may pass in the usual manner.

-"' It will be apparent that the freezing plate assembly within the permanently mounted porcelain chamber, together with the finned cooling plates adjacent the outer surface thereof -may be readily removed as a unit with the com-' pressor since they are all rigidly secured to the heat insulating machine base I. When the unit is installed the freezing plates shelves 4| are 24 are operatively interconected in series rela-' tion through suitable conduit means for the passage of refrigerant therethrough..

In accordance with another embodiment of my invention a finned cooling unit 6| is provided between the rear wall of the freezing chamber and the cabinet.- By this arrangement the cooling plate is concealed behind the freezing chamber 62 and the space adjacent the sides of the freezing chamber may be advantageously utilized for storage purposes as' shown in Figures'5, 6, 7, and 8. In this embodiment the porcelain partition member 63 enclosing the freezing member may be simplified by omitting the apertures in the lateral flanges and if desired the rear flanges may be entirely omitted or made relatively narrow.. The front plate 64 is narrower and more useful storage space is available. The interconnection of the elements of the system is similar to that set forth previously and shown in Fig. 12, except that a single cooling plate is used. The cabinet is cooled by the finned cooling plate 6| and partly from the freezing chamber 62.

' In another modification especially suitable for small refrigerators, my non-frosting two tem- .The front openings of the freezing chamber 30 are defined by a front plate 31 which I may be secured to lugs 38 projecting laterally from the front edge thereof. The front plate is perature OOOII-ILK unit may be mounted atone side of the cabinet thereby a compact structure as shown in 10, and, ii. -In accordance with this modification a removable machine base 1| comprising a portion of the upperheat insulating wall 12 of the food compart- 'ment is disposed adjacent one side wall of the cabinet, which also serves asone of the enclosing .walls of the freezing chamber 12. A porcelain partition member 14 which encloses the freezing chamber 13 comprises a structure of substan-' tially L shaped cross section as shown in. the

sectional view in Fig. 9. Flanges ll projecting laterally from the partition member are provided with apertures through which fastening means 11 may operatively engage the rear wall II of the cabinet'to permanently support the partition member. w

In this simplified construction the rear wall of the cabinet also closes the rear of the freezing chamber 13. The front edge of the partition member is provided with a'lateral flange 8| for securing a front plate 82. A baflle plate It is also provided in parallel spaced relation to the side wall of the freezing chamber to control the air circulation and it is supported between, the front plate 82 and the rear wall II of the cabinet to which it is secured by suitable flanges 84. A drip plate 86 is provided to drain the moisture from the cooling unit and it is slip ported in parallel spaced relation to the bot-. tom of the freezing chamber 13 between the front plate 82 and the rear wall of the cabinet to which it may be secuerd by a flange 81 clamped by the fastening means 11 which also secures the partition unit 14. It is also desirable to provide an auxiliary'drip deflecting strip 9| adjacent the side wall of the refrigerator under the freezingv chamber. The adjacent edges of the drip strip 9| and the drip plate 86 are preferable turned downwardly to facilitate drainage into the usual drip pan 92 which is supported on a shelf 92 in the usual manner. g I

In this arrangement as in those previously described the'freezing plates 4| are suspended from the removable machine base portion ll of the upper cabinet wall by suitable brackets 42. A single flnne'd cooling plate 24 is suspended from the machine base II by a suitable bracket member 91 betweenthe baffle plate 83 and the side wall of the freezing chamber.

When the compressor and the associated ele ments mounted on the machine base are re- .moved, the freezing plates 4| and the cooling plate 24 are withdrawn as a unit from the porcelain partition member 14 which is permanently secured to the cabinet. As shown in Fig. 10 the freezing plates 4| serve as shelves to support the freezing trays 40 within the freezing chamber and to provide a freezing compartment at the bottom of the chamber. 7 The various elements of the compressor unit are mounted upon the heat insulated base in interconnected relation with the freezing and cooling elements in the cabinet.

In Fig. 12 I have shown an embodimentof my as I invention in which the cooling plate III for coolingthe food compartment is mounted within the freezing chamber enclosed by the porcelain partition member I02. The outward surface of the cooling plate II is of flatsmooth formation adapted to fit in close thermal abutting relation against" the inside of the freezing chamber wall.

Thecooling plate may be'lifted freely from the chamber with the removable condenser unit plates in the freezing chamber as in the previous J embodiments. A sealed evaporator I04 is rigidly secured on the outside of the freezing chamber partition I02 opposite the cooling plate I M and in close thermal association therewith.

The sealed evaporator I04 contains a volatile refrigerant and comprises a secondary refrigerant system for absorbing heat from the food compartment.

As the heat within the food storage compartment vaporizes the refrigerant in the secondary system evaporator I04 the vapor is condensed by the cooling plate IM to which its latent heat of vaporization is transmitted and it is then dissipated by the associated system. The refrigerant condenser and compressor are removable as'a unit with the cooling plate IM and the freezing plates 4| by simplylifting the struc ture upwardly from the cabinet.

In operation the refrigerant compressor unit I2 may supply liquefled refrigerant to the heat absorbing elements through a system such as that diagrammatically .represented' in Fig; 13. The compressor pumps refrigerant vapor under high pressure into the condenser I4 and the condensed refrigerant from the condenser I4 passes-through the float regulatingvalve I6 into the coils of the finned cooling plate 24 positioned adjacent one side of the freezing chamber. After the refrigerant expands through the coils of the cooling plate, an interconnected conduit carries it through a pressure reducing weight valve 49 into the freezing plates 4| within .the freezing chamber. The refrigerant then passes through the freezing plates 4| or coils therein provided in series relation through interconnected conduits 45. From the last freezing plate of the series the refrigerant vapor is drawn through a suction line 53 to the compressor I2.

The pressure reducing weight valve 49 through which the refrigerant passes between the cooling plate and the freezing plates serves to operate the respective freezing and cooling elements at different pressures and consequently at different temperatures in accordance with the selected or adjusted characteristics of the valve. The preferred operating temperature of. the cooling plate is such that it will defrost between operating cycles. In the embodiment of Fig. 12 the operating temperature of the cooling plate IN is preferably such that the secondary evaporator may defrost between cycles. This provides a nonfrost element for coolingcirculating air in the food compartment.

Although the connection of the cooling plates I and the freezing plates in series relation provides a convenient system it will be apparent that the respective I cooling and freezing elements may also be arranged in parallel if desired. At times it may be desirable to connect the suction line to the cooling element andpass the high pressure refrigerant first into the freezing plates.

fer to so select and adiust the elements of my.

system that the cooling plates will operate at such temperatures that frosting is avoided or defrosting is accomplished automatically between operations of the compressor.

It will be seen that I have provided a nonfrosting refrigerator cooling unit which may be advantageously utilized in combination with a v two temperature system and a cabinet structure comprising a permanently mounted porcelain freezing chamber whereby the heat absorbing elements normally mounted in the separate freezing and food storage compartments are conveniently removable with the compressor as a unit for shipping and installation, while the porcelain partition member enclosing the freezing chamber remains permanently mounted in low temperature zone including a vertical wall positioned in close proximity to a wall of the cabinet to provide an air cooling zone, heat ab-" sorbing means including a portion for maintaining low temperatures in said low temperature zone and aportion positioned adjacent said vertical wall for cooling circulating air to the desired temperature as it passes through said aircooling zone, and means for maintaining a higher temperature in the heat absorbing portion which cools said circulating air.

2. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet, an enclosure within said cabinet enclosing a low temperature zone including a wall positioned in close proximity to a wall of the cabinet to provide an air cooling zone, heat absorbing means including a portion for maintaining low temperatures in said low temperature zone and a portion positioned for cooling circulating air to the desired temperature as it passes through' said air cooling zone, and means for maintaining a higher temperature in the heat absorbing portion which cools said circulating air.

3. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a cabinet, an enclosure within said cabinet enclosing a low temperature zone, includinga wall positioned in close proximity to a wall of the cabinet to provide an air cooling zone, and heat absorbing means including a portion positioned in said low temperature zone for maintaining low temperatures in saidlow temperature zone and a portion positioned for-cooling the" circulating air to the desired temperature as it passes through said air cooling zone.

I 4. Refrigerating-apparatus comprising a cabl net, an enclosure within the cabinet enclosing a low temperature zone, heat absorbing means ineluding a portion positioned in said low temperature zone for maintaining low-temperatures in said low temperature zone and a portion positioned for cooling circulating air and extending vertically and parallel to a wall of said enclosure substantially from the top to the bottom of said wall and refrigerant flow control means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from one portion to the other of said heat absorbing means.

PAWRENCE A. PHII.|IPP. 

